Author Archives: thevsstudioblog

“Thomas Jefferson kept a copy of Seneca on his nightstand. George Washington staged a reproduction of a play about Cato at Valley Forge in the winter of ‘77/’78 to inspire the troops. Patrick Henry cribbed lines from that play which we now credit to him: “Give me Liberty or give me death!” It is hardlyContinue reading “Recommit”

In the long run, the little bit you manage to accomplish on your worst days will be worth more than the lot you accomplish on your best days. Even if it’s a single thing, you can say to yourself, “Well, at least I did that.“ Consistency is a superpower.

“There’s a songwriter who wrote all of her music in the same messy room in an old office building. It hasn’t been touched in thirty years and she refuses to let it be cleaned. The secret is in that room, she says. She believes it, and it works for her. Charles Dickens carried a compassContinue reading “Choose and Support Your Belief”

It’s never been easier to learn a new skill or start a business or make and release your art. All the tools are out there for anyone who has the desire. Money is no longer an excuse. But because it’s never been easier, it’s never been harder to stand out from the crowd. You willContinue reading “It’s Never Been Easier…And Harder”

For the artist…. The odds of you being cast as a series regular (or booking consistent work) or your play being selected for production by a large regional theater (or any theater) or your novel being published by a major publisher (or any publisher) or any kind of commercial success in the arts, etc…are terrible.Continue reading “How To Beat The Odds”

“We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “A champion doesn’t become a champion in the ring, he’s merely recognized in the ring.Continue reading “The 5 Minute AM/PM Check-In”

“Not inventing, and not adopting new ideas, can itself be both dangerous and immoral.” Matt Ridley, book The Rational Optimist “Pessimists sound smart. Optimists make money.” –Nat Friedman “I’ve realized a new reason why pessimism sounds smart: optimism often requires believing in unknown, unspecified future breakthroughs—which seems fanciful and naive. If you very soberly, wisely,Continue reading “Wrong Before Right”

“What does it mean that success is as dangerous as failure? Whether you go up the ladder or down it, your position is shaky.When you stand with your two feet on the ground, you will always keep your balance.” –Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu (Stephen Mitchell translation) “Life should be lived on the edge ofContinue reading “Balancing”

“Sua Sponte” is a Latin phrase that means doing something voluntary, or doing it “of its own accord.” The U.S. Army Rangers (insignia pictured above) are known for the motto “Rangers lead the way.” It stems from the tremendous heroism and courage they displayed at D-Day. When they stormed the beaches at Normandy. But theContinue reading “Sua Sponte”

“I didn’t want to be a big star. I wanted to be a really good actor.” -Laurence Fishburne I love the below note from Laurence Fishburne at the beginning of his play RIFF RAFF. I’ll just let it speak for itself… P.S. – This 2000 LAT article